Traslacion 2024: Devotees’ trash disrespectful to people, nature – EcoWaste
Garbage left in Quiapo during the conduct of this year’s Traslacion. (Photo from EcoWaste Coalition)
MANILA, Philippines – Piles of garbage were left in areas where Traslacion 2024 took place, leading the pro-environmental group EcoWaste Coalition to lament that a litter-free observance of the religious event remains “an elusive dream.”
A day after the mammoth feast, EcoWaste Coalition’s Zero Waste Campaigner Ochie Tolentino said the mounds of trash left by some Black Nazarene devotees “show a lack of respect for both people and nature.”
“Nakamamangha ang ipinapakitang debosyon at pagsasakripisyo ng mga deboto ng Mahal na Poong Nazareno. Tunay na walang kupas ang kanilang nag-aalab na pananalig. Sa kabilang banda ay labis na nakalulungkot ang sangkaterbang basura na naiwan sa Luneta at sa lansangan ng Quiapo na tila pagpapakita ng kakulangan sa pagrespeto sa kapwa tao at kay Inang Kalikasan,” said Tolentino in a statement on Wednesday.
(The devotion and sacrifice shown by the devotees of the Black Nazarene is impressive. Indeed, their burning faith never fades. On the other hand, the amount of garbage left in Luneta and on the streets of Quiapo is an unfortunate sight that seems to show a lack of respect for both people and nature.)
Tolentino said parade grounds and adjacent streets of Quirino Grandstand were littered with garbage despite the area’s strict “clean as you go” policy.
“An ugly carpet of trash came into view soon after the newly-designed andas for the revered image of the Black Nazarene left the Quirino Grandstand for the massive procession,” said Tolentino.
But the situation is no different in Quiapo Church, which, according to Tolentino, was left littered with food containers, polyethylene terephthalate bottles, and single-use plastic.
“If not collected, these PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles would have ended up in landfills or in storm drains and esteros, aggravating the risk of flooding in the City of Manila and worsen plastic and microplastic pollution in Manila Bay and elsewhere,” said Tolentino.
The group, however, remained optimistic that the situation would improve in the next Feast of the Black Nazarene festivities.
However, it continues to hope that more devotees would heed their group’s call for a waste-free Traslacion.
Official data from Quiapo Church showed that 6,113,598 Catholic devotees have participated in this year’s Traslacion. Of this number, at least 3,227,090 joined the procession, 1,947,508 waited in Quiapo Church, and 939,000 stayed in Quirino Grandstand.
